Beach umbrella assembly



Dec. 16, 1941.

E. G. BROWN BEACH UMBRELLA AS SEMBLY Filed Feb. 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 16, 1941. BRQWN 2,266,684

BEACH UMBRELLA ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEACH UMZIiZjj: ASSEMBLY ApplicationFebruary 28, 1938, Serial No. 193,201

1 Claim.

The invention relates to a combination adapted to serve as a beach umbrella.

The principal object of the invention, generally stated, is to provide a handy. and convenient beach umbrella housed in a container, the latter serving as a walking stick or cane. Another object of the invention is to provide a skeleton umbrella frame housed within a container, the latter serving as a cane or walking stick, the coveringfor said. umbrella frame being adapted to also serve-asabeach garment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a case for housing anumbrella frame, the umbrella or frame being telescopically mounted within the housing andthe housing being adapted-to be forced into fsand or ground to form a support for maintaining the umbrella frame in any fixed position when the latter is extended. Other objects of the inventionwill more fully hereinafter-appear in connection with the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated on the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational View, partially in section, of an umbrella framework housing embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a View partially in elevation and partially in vertical section showing the urnbrella housing secured in the ground with the umbrella framework extended and covered with a fabric covering so as to serve as a beach umbrella.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Figure 2 having a portion thereof removed to more clearly illustrate the relation of elements.

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively plan views of the garment, Figure 4 representing the garment in the form of a cape and Figure 5 representing the garment in the form of a skirt.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a beach hat forming a portion of the covering for the umbrella framework.

Figures '7 and 8 are fragmentary sectional views showing means for maintaining the umbrella framework in fixed position in connection wit the housing or casing member.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view showing the means by which the fabric cover may be interlocked with the ribs of the umbrella framework.

Throughout the specification and drawings like parts are designated by like reference characters. The numeral I designates a casing or housing which, when the members are assembled as shown in Figure 1, is adapted to serve as a walking stick or cane. This casing may be made of aluminum, stainless steel or bamboo and is pref.- erably of such length as to form a convenient cane or walking stick. It is provided at its lower end with a conical portion 2 which is adapted to penetrate the sand or light soil so as to firmly support the casing I in any desired upright position. Housed within the casing is an umbrella frame comprising a central staff 3, a plurality of ribs 4 and a plurality of supports for said ribs designated by the numeral 5. The ribs are pivotally supported adjacent the upper end of the staff from a ring or collar 6 which is secured to the staff 3 in any desirable manner. The staff 3 is adapted to extend upwardly beyond the col-' lar 6 and is rigidly connected to an enlarged ring or boss 1, the exterior surface of which corresponds to and engages the inner surface 8 of the casing I. This boss I may be and preferably is provided with spring clips 9 adapted to releas ably engage in slots H) in the housing member to maintain the parts in assembled position as illustrated in Figure 1. At the lower end of the staff 3 is provided a similar boss or collar II also provided with spring detent members 12 which, when the staff is pulled outwardly of the casing, are likewise adapted to engage within the slots It] so as to lock said stafi against either further withdrawal or against retraction within the casing I until the members I2 have been pressed inwardly to release their engagement with the casmg.

Mounted upon the upper boss 1 is a vanity case 13 which may be of any desirable form or character, in which may be housed as usual a mirror, lipstick, powder and rouge as is the custom in vanity cases. As illustrated in the drawings, the vanity case is provided with a hinged cover and is substantially circular in outline. When closed it forms a convenient handle for the walking stick and also forms a smooth portion upon which a portion of the umbrella covering can be applied without detriment to the covering.

In order that the outer casing for the umbrella framework may be made of relatively small diameter so as to serve as a walking stick, the covering for the umbrella framework is adapted to be separate from and detachably connected to the framework rather than forming an integral part thereof. This purpose has been accomplished by providing a covering for the umbrella, generally designated by the numeral M, as a beach garment or the like which may be worn either as a cape or skirt. This garment is preferably circular in outline except that a goreshaped piece is removed and the garment is provided with a central opening l5. If the garment is to be worn as a cape the opening I5 is, as shown in Figure 4, of a size to fit the neck of the wearer, but if, as a skirt, the opening I5 is of a size to fit the waist of the wearer. The adjacent edges l6 and I1 formed by the removal of the gore-shaped piece are adapted to be connected, the form of connection being a zipper of the detachable type designated by the reference character l8. The periphery of the garment is provided with a series of eyelets I 9 which are adapted to engage over books 20 formed respectively on each of the ribs of the umbrella frame.

It will be noted that the openings l5 are of course of larger size than the diameter of the vanity case l3 so that the covering provided would leave a central uncovered portion in the umbrella when the garment I4 is applied thereto. To close this opening the garment l4 may be formed with a tunic 2| as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 5, the tunic being split as indicated by the dotted lines 22 in Figure 5, so that when the adjacent edges l6 and I! of the garment are connected and the garment is assembled with the umbrella framework one portion of the tunic may be turned over so as to cover the opening IE, or the garment I 4 may be provided with buttons or other fastening means 23 and a beach hat 24, illustrated in Figure 6, may be placed over the garment and over the case 13 and connected to the garment by passing the buttons 23 through the button-holes 25 through which the ribbons or other fastening means 26 of the beach hat are adapted to extend.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a light, compact container adapted to telescopically receive therein the framework of an umbrella and have provided an attractive garment or assembly of garment and beach hat which may be worn by the person using the walking stick and which is readily, simply and easily adapted to be connected to the umbrella framework so as to form a complete closure and to afford a protection from the sun, and that by so forming the parts of my device I have avoided the clumsy and awkward forms of beach umbrellas heretofore in use and have provided a light and attractive ensemble which may be readily used without nuisance and bother of weight and bulkiness of devices of this type which have heretofore been in use.

It is to be noted that by making the garment circular and by removing therefrom a goreshaped piece the garment, when the adjacent edges are connected, forms a truncated cone and hence is readily adapted to fit and to be detachably connected to an umbrella framework. I have provided also a convenient handle for the cane or walking stick and formed Within this handle is a vanity case to enable the user of this ensemble to carry, without inconvenience, the usual cosmetic aids. The garment of course may be provided if desired with pockets in which may be placed a comb, cigarettes, matches or other articles as desired.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A beach umbrella comprising a hollow member having a closed conical shaped lower end adapted to be fixed in the ground, a closure member for the open end of said hollow member, and an umbrella frame including a plurality of ribs pivotally connected to said frame adjacent the closure member connected to said closure member, said frame and ribs being telescopingly mounted within said hollow member, said frame having ribs, means for maintaining said frame in a predetermined position relative to said hollow member, and means for releasably attaching a preformed cloth to said ribs as an umbrella cover.

ESTHER G. BROWN. 

